American People The Best African American Actors in Film

From any era and genre, these are the greatest African American actors in film history, ranked by the community to determine who is the best African American actor of all time. These top black actors are the best of the best and many are also among the best living actors today. From those who have portrayed classic black characters, to award winning actors, only the best African American male actors are on this list. (Click here to vote on the best black actresses.)

Who are the greatest African American actors in film? From Oscar winners like Denzel Washington, classic actors like Sidney Poitier, and other names such as Terrence Howard, each of the famous black actors on this list has earned his place with an excellent body of work and memorable performances. Some African American comedians and rappers are also on this list, having found success in the world of film as well.

The black male actors that are featured on this list include some of the best actors of all time including, Morgan Freeman, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Ossie Davis, Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover, and Eddie Murphy. Of course, you'll also find young black actors who've recently risen to the top. Is the African American actor you think is best not on the list? Add him to make a truly comprehensive list to determine the best African American actors in film history.

list ordered by

1

801 154

Denzel WashingtonAntwone Fisher, Book of Eli, American Gangster Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. Washington has received much critical acclaim for his film work since the 1990s, including his portrayals of real-life figures ...more

2

642 121

Morgan FreemanShawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, and narrator. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank ...more

3

567 134

Samuel L. JacksonPulp Fiction, The Avengers, Django Unchained Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, Amos & Andrew, ...more

4

471 143

takizm777 added Idris ElbaThor, Thor: The Dark World, Prometheus Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British actor, producer, singer, rapper, and DJ. Elba is best known for his portrayal of drug lord and aspiring businessman Russell "Stringer" ...more

5

539 150

Will SmithAfter Earth, I Am Legend, Independence Day Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. is an American actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him ...more

6

392 92

Forest WhitakerThe Butler, The Last King of Scotland, The Last Stand Forest Steven Whitaker III is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird and Ghost ...more

7

358 111

Laurence FishburneThe Matrix, Man of Steel, Boyz in the Hood Laurence John Fishburne III is an American actor, playwright, director, and producer. He is known for his roles as Morpheus in the Matrix science fiction film trilogy, Mr. Clean in Apocalypse ...more

8

322 121

eilish added Jamie FoxxDjango Unchained, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Ray Eric Marlon Bishop, known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer, comedian, writer, and producer. As an actor, his work in the 2004 Ray Charles biographical film Ray earned ...more

9

241 90

Chiwetel EjioforTwelve Years a Slave, American Gangster, Children of Men Chiwetelu Umeadi "Chiwetel" Ejiofor, OBE is an English actor of film, television, and theatre. After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995, and then subsequently gaining a ...more

10

296 92

Don CheadleCrash, Hotel Rwanda, Iron Man 3 Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle, Jr. is an American actor. Cheadle had an early role in Picket Fences and followed it with performances in Devil in a Blue Dress, Rosewood and Boogie Nights. ...more

11

319 93

James Earl JonesThe Lion King, Return of the Jedi, Field of Dreams James Earl Jones is an American actor who in a career of more than 60 years has become known as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors and "one of the greatest ...more

12

281 105

Eddie MurphyBeverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Norbit Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and director. Box-office takes from Murphy's films make him the 4th-highest grossing actor in the United ...more

13

207 83

Michael Clarke DuncanPlanet of the Apes, Daredevil, The Green Mile Michael Clarke Duncan was an American actor, best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He was also ...more

14

278 105

Sidney PoitierGuess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, Lilies of the Field Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE, is a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author and diplomat. In 1964, Poitier became the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role ...more

15

237 92

Terrence HowardIron Man, The Best Man, Hustle and Flow Terrence Howard is an actor, singer-songwriter, film producer and record producer.

16

215 82

Danny GloverLethal Weapon, The Color Purple, Shooter Daniel Lebern "Danny" Glover is an American actor, film director and political activist. Glover is well known for his roles as Mr. Albert Johnson in The Color Purple, Michael Harrigan ...more

17

221 89

Cuba Gooding, Jr.What Dreams May Come, Jerry Maguire, Boyz in the Hood Cuba M. Gooding Jr. is an American film actor. He is best known for his Academy Award–winning role as Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire.

18

173 31

Chadwick Boseman42, The Express, Get on Up Chadwick Aaron Boseman is an American actor, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for portraying Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get On Up. He will star as the superhero Black ...more

19

175 32

Michael B. JordanThat Awkward Moment, Fruitvale Station, Hardball Michael Bakari Jordan is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as East Dillon High School quarterback Vince Howard in Friday Night Lights, teenage drug dealer Wallace in The Wire, ...more

20

178 79

takizm777 added Ice CubeFriday, 21 Jump Street, Boyz n the Hood O'Shea Jackson, Sr., better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and filmmaker. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later ...more

21

195 105

Wesley SnipesBlade, White Men Can't Jump, Demolition Man Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist. He is best known for his role as the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy. He formed a production ...more

22

183 93

takizm777 added Kevin HartThe 40-Year-Old Virgin, This Is the End, Scary Movie 3 Kevin Darnell Hart is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart began his career by winning several amateur comedy competitions at ...more

23

163 79

Ving RhamesPulp Fiction, Dawn of the Dead, Mission: Impossible Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Out of Sight, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, Dawn of the Dead, ...more

24

150 61

takizm777 added Morris ChestnutBoyz n the Hood, Kick-Ass 2, Identity Thief Morris L. Chestnut is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the films Boyz n the Hood, The Best Man and its sequel, The Brothers, Two Can Play That Game, Like Mike, Ladder 49, The ...more

25

127 65

Djimon HounsouBlood Diamond, Gladiator, Amistad Djimon Gaston Hounsou is an actor, model, and Beninese expatriate in the United States, who has been nominated for two Academy Awards.

26

150 81

Richard PryorSee No Evil, Hear No Evil, Stir Crazy Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American comedian, actor, film director, social critic, satirist, writer, and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and ...more

27

117 62

takizm777 added Omar EppsScream 2, Love & Basketball, Juice Omar Hashim Epps is an American actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. His film roles include Major League II, Juice, Higher Learning, Scream 2, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love and ...more

28

125 75

takizm777 added Chris TuckerThe Fifth Element, Friday, Silver Linings Playbook Christopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing the role of Smokey in Friday and as Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. Tucker ...more

29

153 76

Louis Gossett, Jr.An Officer and a Gentleman, Iron Eagle, Roots Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, and his ...more

30

113 68

31

112 71

Keith DavidThe Princess and the Frog, The Thing, Pitch Black Keith David Williams, better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He has acted in many mainstream films, such as Crash, There's Something About Mary, ...more

32

131 72

Billy Dee WilliamsReturn of the Jedi, Batman, Brian's Song William December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars film franchise, as well as ...more

33

92 64

takizm777 added Mike EppsThe Hangover, The Hangover Part III, Hancock Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the ...more

34

105 61

John AmosComing to America, Roots, Lock Up John Amos is an American actor who played James Evans, Sr. on the 1970s television series Good Times. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the miniseries Roots, for ...more

35

95 69

takizm777 added Redd FoxxHarlem Nights, Cotton Comes to Harlem, On Location: Redd Foxx John Elroy Sanford, known professionally as Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his explicit comedy records and his starring role on the 1970s sitcom Sanford and ...more

36

48 15

GabeBallard added Donald GloverThe Muppets, Mystery Team, The To Do List Donald McKinley Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is an American actor, writer, comedian, rapper, singer, and producer. He first came to attention for his work with Derrick ...more

37

40 10

jaelle08 added Taye DiggsChicago, Equilibrium, Go Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs is an American theatre, film and television actor, best known by his nickname, Taye Diggs. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway musical Rent, ...more

38

96 63

Charles S. DuttonGothika, Alien 3, Badass Charles Stanley Dutton is an American stage, film, and television actor and director, best known for his roles as "Fortune" in the film Rudy, "Dillon" in Alien 3, and the ...more

39

42 16

GabeBallard added Daniel KaluuyaJohnny English Reborn, Welcome to the Punch, Chatroom Daniel Kaluuya is an English actor, comedian and writer, who is best known for playing Posh Kenneth in the E4 teen-drama Skins. He also appeared in the BBC dark comedy series Psychoville playing ...more

40

85 55

Larenz TateThe Hot Spot, Menace II Society, Love Jones Larenz Tate is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as O-Dog in the 1993 drama film, Menace II Society. His other films include Dead Presidents, Love Jones, A Man ...more

41

75 62

Mos DefBe Kind Rewind, Something the Lord Made, The Italian Job Yasiin Bey, better known by his former stage name Mos Def, is an American hip hop recording artist, actor, and activist from Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Best known for his music, Mos Def ...more

42

90 63

Paul WinfieldThe Terminator, Sounder, White Dog Paul Edward Winfield was an American television, film and stage actor. He was known for his portrayal of a Louisiana sharecropper who struggles to support his family during the Great Depression ...more

43

86 60

LeVar BurtonRoots, Smart House, Star Trek Nemesis Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr., professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, presenter, director, producer, and author. Burton is best known for his roles as the young Kunta ...more

44

63 56

Michael K. Williams12 Years a Slave, Robocop, Snitch Michael Kenneth Williams is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire and Albert "Chalky" White on the HBO series Boardwalk

45

81 61

Yaphet KottoAlien, Live and Let Die, Midnight Run Yaphet Frederick Kotto is an American actor, known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street as Lieutenant Al Giardello. His films ...more

46

76 56

Courtney B. VanceThe Hunt for Red October, The Preacher's Wife, The Divide Courtney Bernard Vance is an American actor. He is notable for his roles in the feature film The Hunt for Red October and the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, in which he ...more

47

74 55

Giancarlo EspositoDo The Right Thing, The Usual Suspects, Last Holiday Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito is a Danish-born American actor, director, and producer of African-Italian descent. He is best known for his portrayal of Gustavo "Gus" Fring on ...more

48

29 13

49

77 61

Jeffrey WrightThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Casino Royale, Source Code Jeffrey Wright is an American film, television and stage actor. He is known for such roles as Belize in the HBO miniseries Angels in America, Muddy Waters in Cadillac Records, Jean-Michel ...more

50

32 17

Harold Perrineau Jr.The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Romeo + Juliet Harold Perrineau is an American actor, known for the roles of Michael Dawson in the U.S. television series Lost, Link in The Matrix films and games, Augustus Hill in the American television ...more